Liquid dispenser



June 6, 1933. w. J. PETER LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 17, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I WILL/AM JPETER BY HIS Awowzvs June 6, 1933. wJ PETER 1,913,128

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 1" lmluu" I i ii 3 '38 H I 3 i WWW H lH-lv W T 3% 1 :f I (if 61 /?2a I 33 y L 41 g "I fr V 4L 3073 INVENTOR WILLIAM J. PETER T BY HIS ATTORNEYS June 6, 1933.w. J. PETER 1,913,128

' LIQUID DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 17, 1931 j 22 :5: f F BOFIG.3.

T M INVENTOR v mum PETER BY ms, ATTORNEYS* v fiww figwm W. JJPETERLIQUID DISPENSER June 6, 1933.

, Filed April 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ii mk INVENTOR WILLIAM J. PETERV In; I 1

. L I! 1 I BY i-us ATTORNEYS QM, M

Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE WILLIAM 3'. PETER, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AQUA SYSTEMS INCOEPORATED,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LIQUID DISPENSER.

Application filed am! 17,,

This invention relates to liquid dispensers and particularly to curbpumps or wall panel pumps and the like for dispensing gasoline, oil orother liquids, The invention contem- 5 plates improvements in thepumping assembly whereby a single or unit pipe-connection fitting orhousing is utilized to mount a pump and a by-pass valve as well as'astrainer and/or other elements constituting any liquid control mechanismwhich may be desired to install in or on the unit housing or pipefitting means.

A principal object of the invention is to construct a chambered housingfor use in liquid dispensers and to which the gasoline or liquid inletand outlet pipes or connections are directly made and upon which thepump is carried for forcing the liquid from the storage tank to thepoint of delivery without mounting the pump driving parts in saidchambered housing. A by-pass valve may also be included within thispipe-com nection housing to by-pass the liquid from the high pressure.or discharge side of the pump back to the suction side thereof. whenthe liquid or gasoline dischar e nozzle on the outer end of the usualdelivery hose is closed and consequently the pressure on the dischargeside of the pump exceedsthe dc livery pressure of the "liquid.

Another object ofthe invention is to construct a single or unitpipe-connection housing for a liquid dispenser which housing may supporta pump and its driving motor for dispensing the liquid, the housing alsoincluding a strainer for straining the liquid before delivery-at theoutlet or discharge nozzle and preferably strainingthe liquid before itenters the pump. 40 A still further object is to construct a uni.+

housing for a :liquid dispenser which carries a pumping unit thereon andthe pipeconnection housing'including a by-pass valve ,by which theliquid is'by-passed from the high pressure s ide 'of the pump back tothe low pressure side whenever the pressure exceeds the normal deliverypressure of the pump when the discharge or delivery valve is closed.

The by-pass valve also is positioned adja- 1931. Serial m5. 530,751

.delivery hose line, can reach the pump.-

Another object is to position the bypass valve, through which the highpressure side of the pump is connected with the low pressure orsuctionside of the pump when the pressure becomes greater than the deliverypressure, remotely from the flow of liquid to the ump so that theflowing liquid will not induence the actuation of the by-pass valveeither toop'en the valve when it should be closed or to hold the valveclosed when it should be open.

A still further object is to produce a single housing unit whichincludes an air cushion chamber therein to absorb the hydraulic shockstransferred through the liquid by thesudden closing of a valve in thedelivery hose line.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription, taken 1n connection with the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate two embodiments of the invention, in which Figure 1 shows aconventional curb pump for gasoline and the like with its outer shell orcasing removed to show the general details and construction of thedispensing or pumping assembly orv mechanism in its relation to theother parts of the liquid dis penser such as the meter, delivery hoseand nozzle which are also shown.

Figure 2 is a cross-section through the single or unit pipe-connectionhousing which carries the pump and in which a strainer and by-pass valveis housed showing these elements in their respective positions withinthe housin as well as the mounting for the motor whic drives the pump.

Figure 3 is at cross-section through the m housing as taken on line 33of Figure 2 with the pump shown carried on the end of the housing andthe relation of the strainer and by-pass valve with respect thereto.

Figure 4- is a cross-section taken on line' H of Figure 2 showingspecifically the by-pass'valve mounting.

Figure 5 isa section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 6 through a housing ofa modi-v with from the high pressure side of the.

pump.

Gasoline or curb pumps are ordinarily constructed so that the strainer,the pump and the by-pass valve are separate elements. and

. are all connected together with the usual pipe connections, such aspipe Ls, Ts and nipples. A usual pump, strainer and bypass installationon a curb stand or wall panel liquid dispenser therefore includes agreat many pipe connections in order to operatively connect thesevarious parts of the pumping unit together with the strainer,

pump and by-pass valves in proper relation to each other. I

In the usual method of connecting a liquid pump, strainer and by-p'assvalve mechanism for the pump, it is difficult, if not impossible forallpractical purposes, to cut and thread the connecting nipples andconnections of proper length so that when they are assembled togetherand tightened, a strain is not thrown upon the pump and itsof theassembled units. As a consequence, it

frequently happens that a strain is set up in pump hous ngs heretoforeused when the mucus pipe connections are made therew1th,

which strain is suflicient to throw the pumping mechanism and itsbearings out of alignment and results in a construction which is notwholly satisfactory in its operation because misaligned bearings heat,jam, freeze and cause trouble. The assembling of a strainer and by-passvalve in my single or unit pipe-connection housing, to which the pump islater secured, fixes all the parts permanently in their relation to eachother so that when pipes are later attached to the pipe-connectionhousing of my invention, :it is impossible to throw a strain upon any ofthe, parts, and as a consequence. the pump bearings and parts are notstrained or thrown out of alignment and the pump functions more satisfacmily than heretofore. The by-pass valve also is unstrained andconsequently it seats perfectly without being thrown out of alignmentwhich would probably cause the valve to seat imperfectly and leak. Inaddition, there are only two pipe connections with my unit-housing whichresults in a simpler and more satisfactory structure.

lhe unit housing for supporting the pump and for housing the strainerand lay-pass valve, to be described herein, has particular use withgasoline meter pumps or dispensers such, for example, as a curb pumpshown in Figure 1. Inasmuch as the invention pertains particularly tothe pipe-connection housing and its assembly, the principal details onlyof the gasoline dispenser or curb pump stand are shown.

The usual type of gasoline curb pump con sists of a base 10 on which anupright sheet metal shell is mounted and in which a frame 11 rises toform a conventional curb pump stand. The frame barries a metering device12 which controls an indicating dial 13 and the usual delivery hose 14and discharge nozzle 15 in which a delivery valve may be carried,such'as the valve 17, although the delivery valve may be positionedanywhere desiredin the delivery pipe line. 'The gasoline is pumped; fromthe tank or reservoir, not shown, through an inlet pipe into a single orunit pipe-fitting means in the form of a pipe-connection housing 21bolted to the upright'frame standards 11 and this housing carries a pump22 containing a strainer and.

bypass valve which will be described hereinafter. lhe pump 22 is drivenby any suitable driving means, such as the electric motor 23, fordrawing the gasoline from the tank and delivering or pumping it out ofthe outlet pipe 25 through the meter 12, hose 14 and nozzle 15. Thisdescribes generally a curb or gasoline pump stand or dispenser fordriving parts as well as upon the other parts which this invention isparticularly adapted and a'self-contained conventional pump 22 may beused since the invention has to do with the pipe-connection housing 21and its general relation to all other parts.

The unit housing 21 consists of an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber31. These two chambers are formed by a partition 33 which separates thehousing into the inlet and outlet chambers, having two spaced ports I 35and 36, one on each side of the partition wall 33, and leading toatmosphere from each internal chamber or passage 30 and 31. Thepartition 33 is preferably a horizontal one which separates the housinginto an upper outlet chamber and a lower inlet chamber but otherrelative positions of the chambers are within the scope of theinvention. A pump inlet port or passage 35 in the side or outer wall ofthe housing 21 leads to the pump 22 which may be of any type, althoughthe preferred form is a rotary pump having a shaft and an impeller meansmany of which are obtainable on the market. Since the pump per se is anelement separate and independent of the pipe-connection housing and.alone does not constitute the invention, it will not be described ingreat detail. The pump 22 also has spaced ports connected in registrywith the ports 35 and 36 and delivers the liquid or gasoline into theoutlet pump passage or discharge port 36 leading to the outlet cham-.

ber 31 of the housing 21. The pump is secured preferably to the side ofthe housing by bolts 38 so that the pump is carried by the housing andfor all purposes it is practically a part of the housing in that itserves as a passage-way connection between the two laterally directedports 35 and 36 which open to atmosphere thru an outer common wall ofthe member 21. The liquid or gasoline flows through the outlet chamber31 and the outlet pipe 25 of the housing 21, as previously described.

Thus the housing means 21 serves to place the pump 22 or any otherliquid-control mechanism in communication with the inlet and outletpipes 20 and 25 but doing so without direct and physical connection withthe pipes 20 and 25. This is an advantage because ordinary workmanshipor labor may be used to install the pipes 20 and 25 inasmuch as thedelicate ump or other liquid control means 22 is E to one side and notsubject to any of the twisting strain or rough treatment frequentlyadministered to machinery by the rank and file of workman. It issignificant that a single housing means 21 serves the several purposesof mounting and supporting a pump in .serviceposition, of keeping thepiping and away from the pump and thus removes all causes for working ortinkering of pipe fitters around the pump, likewise the housing means 21places the pipes and pump means in communication, acts as a base orstand for the motor 23, and con- .tains the strainer and by-pass valvemeans.

These purposes being attained in a simple one-piece casting orunit-housing or pipeconnection means constitutes an important feature ofthe invention.

The pipe-connection housing 21 in its preferred embodiment also has asecond partition 40 separating or dividing the housing or particularlythe inlet chamber 30 into an inlet assage 41 which connects with theinlet chamr 30 through a strainer opening 45 through the partition 40. Astrainer 46 of the basket type is inserted into the strainer opening 45so that the open end of the strainer is seated in the opening and thestrainer itself extends into the inlet chamber 30. A spring 47 holds thestrainer'46 in position n the housing and within the strainer opening45.

The wall of the housing 21 has a threaded opening in axial alignmentwith the strainer 46 and large enough to pass the strainer opening islarge enough so that when the Y cap 48 is removed, the strainer may beremoved through the opening and cleaned, repaired or replaced whenevernecessary to do so. It will be observed therefore that in the preferredconstruction the liquid or asoline passes through the strainer 46 be orethe liquid reaches the pump 22, because it is de sirable to remove allforeign matter from the gasoline or liquid before it enters the.

pump which foreign matter may otherwise injure or cause excessive wearthereto.

The unit pipe-connection housing 21 carries a by-pass valve whichnormally closes a by-pass connection in the form of a port or passage 56between the outlet chamber 31 and the inlet chamber 30. The by-pass portor opening 56 is preferably within the housing and in the partition 33which divides the housing into the inlet and outlet chambers 30 and 31respectively and consequently the by-pass valve is inserted directlywithin the housing and forms a part of the unit housing structure. Theby-pass valve 55 carries a valve stem 58 which is slidable in the guide59 carried upon the open work support or valve cage 60 of the valve seatmember, 61. A vent 62 is provided in the end of the guide 59 so thatneither excess pressure nor suction between the end of the valve stem 58and the end of the guide 59 will affect the actuation of the by-passvalve 55.

The by-pass valve 55 is preferably positioned so that its axis extendsvertically because it is important that the valve seat remain clean ofgrit and dirt which would hold the valve open when it should be closed.The valve in being positioned vertically enables the gasoline flowingtherethrough to wash the seat clean so that the valve will always seattight when the valve is closed. Another advantage of the verticalposition of the valve is that the valve will float or have a certaindegree of freedom and adjust itself when it closes so that the valvewill align itself upon the valve seat without leaking.

A spring 65 resiliently holds the valve 55 in contact with the valveseat member 61. The other end of the spring 65 seats upon a tensionadjusting member 67 which is threaded into a threaded opening 66 in thehousing. This tension adjusting member 67 carries a split 68 extendingthrough the greater part of its diameter forming a resilient end 69.

by-pass valve, spring and valve cage memher are removable from thepipe-connection housing through the opening 66 whenever desired forrepair or replacement and adjustment of the tension of the springagainst the by-pass valve 55, which may be accomplished merely byremoving the cap 72, loosening of the lock screw 70 and turning thespring adjustment member 67, after which the lock screw 70 is againtightened and the cap 7 2 is rethreaded into the opening.

It will be noted that the bypass valve 55 is positioned in a pocket inthe inlet chan1- her which is remote from the flow of the liquid orgasoline from the inlet pipe 26 and through the strainer 46 to the pump22 as shown by the arrows. In other words, the by-pass valve 55 ispositioned in the inlet chamber but remotely from the flow of the liquidthercthrough. The by-pass valve is positioned as described above inorder that the flowing liquid will not tend to assist or resist thenormal opening or closing of the valve 55. The by-pass valve 55 with itsby pass connection 56 is also located immediate- 1y adjacent to theoutlet pipe 25 from the outlet chamber 31.

in the preferred construction, the lay-pass valve 55 and the bypassopening 56 is placed in axial alignment and adjacent to the outlet pipe25. The purpose of so positioning the lay-pass valve 55 is to enable thevalveto respond immediately to excessive pressure or to a pressureexceeding a predetermined value within the outlet chamber 31 as soon asthe pressure is built up Within the outlet pipe 25 due to the closing ofthe delivery valve 17 which may be carried by the nozzle 15 or may bepositioned elsewhere in the delivery hose 14 or pipe 25. This may beexpressed in a somewhat different manner in this way, that the by-passvalve 55 is nearer to the outlet pipe 25 than the pump 22 andconsequently when the pressure in the outlet pipe 25 exceedssutficiently a predetermined value or the normal pump delivery pressureto actuate the by-pass valve 55 such as by closing the delivery valve 17in the nozzle 15, the by-pass valve will respond and open under thishigher or maximum pump pressure before thepressure can build upbackwardly to the pump 22. The by-pass valve is therefore more quicklyresponsive to the maximum pump pressure and adequately protects the pumpfrom damage and wear. which would occur if the pump should ever operateand force against a closed liquid line. The pump means 22 runs freelyand without injury in event the hose line 14 closes because the bypassvalve 55 quickly opens and afi'ords an open nonrcsisting liquid circuit.

Any type of pump having a casing separatefrom and independent of thepipe-connection housing 21 may be used to draw the liquid from a storagesupply and force the liquid through the curb dispenser, although arotary or impeller ty is best suited for this sort of service. ninternal gear or impeller type of pump is shown having an internal gearcarried upon a shaft 86 and a pinion 87 carried on the shaft 81 which iseccentrically positioned with respect to the gear shaft 86. The impellermeans and shaft are mounted in the separable casing apart from thehousing 21. This type of pump is purchasable upon the market and willnot be further described.

The pump 22 is driven by any suitable means, such as the electric motor23 which carries a pulley 78 upon which the drive belt 79 is mounted fordriving connection with the pulley 80 carried upon the pump shaft 86.The motor 23 is bolted directly to the housing by means of the bolts 83although this is not an essential construction but does ofier a morecompact and complete pumping unit.

The pipe connection fitting or housing 80 in Figures 5 and 6, has theinlet 26 from the storage tanlr connected to the inlet passage 92 withinthe housing which passage connects with the inlet chamber 93. A.strainer 9% strains all the liquid before it enters the inlet chamber 93from the inlet passage 92. The pump inlet port 95 leads to the pump 22from which the liquid is discharged through the pump outlet port 96 intothe outlet chamber 97 to which the outlet pipe 25 is connected leadingto the meter 12, hose 14 and delivery nozzle 15. The hy-pass valve 55with its associated parts is similar to the valve shown in Figure. 2 andalready described herein.

Included with the housing 90 is an air chamber 100 formed by a partition101 with in the housing. The air chamber is connected by an opening 102to the passage 103 which passage is in direct connection with the outletchamber 97 on the high pressure side of the pump, Air is pocketed in theair chamber 100 so that when the delivery valve 1'? is closed the suddenincrease in pressure in the delivery system is cushioned by theresiliency or elasticity of the air within the air chamber. Thisprinciple is well understood in hydraulics and will not be furtherdescribed.

In the preferred construction, the housing means 21 or 90 includes boththe strainer and the by-pass valve mounted therein. It is clear.however, that the housing may be provided to carry the pump and to housethe by pass valve Without deviating from the scope of the invention andother or separate provisions be made for the strainer. Similarly, it isclear that the pipe-connection housing may be constructed to carry thepump and to house the strainer only, and other provisions may be madefor the by-pass valve than within the housing, although the bv-pa'ssvalve should be carried by the housing. The preferred construction,however, houses both the a strainer and theby-pass valve within the unithousing.

i that the liquid flow is su flows through the passage 35 In theexamples of construction described the strainer is positioned centrallyof the housing andthe pump is mounted upon one side thereof and theby-pass valve with its associated mechanism ismounted in the housing onthe other side of the strainer from the pumpfmounting. By thisconstruction the inlet pipe 20 is connected with the lower part and atone side of the housing adjacent to the pump, whereas the outlet pipe 25is connected at the top and the otherside of the housing. Suchconstruction also enables the liquid flow through the'housing 21 to beunobstructed by numerous sharp corners and generally the flow is along)curved passages so ject to a minlmum amount of turbulence and frictionthrough the housing.

In operation the attendant removes the nozzle from the hook 16 and opensthe nozzle or delivery valve 17 The electric motor 23 is started usuallyby .removing the nozzle 15 from the hook 16 by mechanism whichconstitutes no part of this invention and therefore will not bedescribed. The motor, of course, may be started manually. Starting ofthe motor drives the pump 22 so that the gasoline or liquid flows upthrough the inlet pipe 20 through the inlet passage 41 into the strainer46 in the inlet chamber 30. From the inlet chamber 30, the gasoline intothe pump 22 and is discharged out through the passage 36 into the outletchamber 31 and then out through the outlet pipe 25. The outlet pipeconducts the gasoline through the meter 12 and the flexible hose 14,through the nozzle valve 17' and nozzle 15. So long as the gasolineisflowing through the pipe-connection housing, the differential pressurebetween the outlet chamber 31 and inlet chamber is not sufiicientlygreatto overcome the tension of the spring 65 against the by-pass valve55 which therefore remains closed.

When the desired quantity of gasoline has been delivered, thenozzlevalve 17 is closed, whereas the motor 23 and pump 22 continue tofunction. The pressure from the pump 22, therefore, builds'up, beginningfrom the delivery valve wherever it may be located in the delivery line,through the outlet pipe 25 in a direction opposite to the direction of'fluid in passing flow into the outlet chamber 31. The maxi mum pressureof the pump 22 is sufficiently greatwhen the liquidis not'flowing topress V the by-pass valve 55 downward against'the tension of the spring65 so that the liquid flows through the by-pass passage or connection 56into the inlet chamber 30 therebyforming a complete circuit for thegasoline so long as the pump continues to operate while the deliveryvalve 17 is closed. It is clear therefore, that with the delivery valveclosed so that no gasoline can be delivered, the gas-.

oline makes a complete circuit from the pump through the passage 36 intothe outlet chamber 31 and 'then through the bypass passage or connection56 into the inlet chamber 36 and passage back into the pump. With thedelivery valve closed, the pump creates sufiicient pressure differentialbetween the inlet chamber 30 and the outlet chamber 31 to open theby-pass valve against the tension of the spring Upon opening thedelivery valve 17 so that the fluid again flows through the outlet pipe25, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber 30 and theoutlet chamber 31' decreascs so that the spring 65 closes the valve 55and thereby stops the by-pass flow of gasoline through the chambers ofthe housing and the by-pass-connection 56, Of course if the electricmotor is stopped, such as by a manual switch or by hanging the nozzle 15upon the hook 16, the pump then stops forcing the fluid or gasolinethrough the delivery system,

whereupon the pump pressure or the high differential pressure betweenthe inlet chamber 30 and the outlet chamber 31 no longer exists and thespring 65 closes the valve 55.

The invention provides, therefore, a unit pipe-connection housing whichin its preferred construction, carries a pump and which houses astrainer and axby-pass valve, although it is clear that other provisionsmay be made for the strainer and other provisions may be made for theby-pass valve, although the latter preferably is carried by the housingif not housed therein. By this construction numerous advantages resultwhich have been outlined in some detail above but which briefly are, theelimination of a great number -of pipe connections thereby producing asimplified construction. Another advantage results because the numerouspipe couplings and connections heretofore used resulted in the pumphousing being frequently strained. and thereby throwing the variousparts thereof out of alignment and resulting in an unsatisfactoryoperation of the pump.

The 'unit housing also provides smooth flowing passages for the liquidwithout sharp bends and again, bythe'construction of the unit housing,it is possible to position the bypass valve at a point adjacent to andalso in axial alignment with the outlet pipe 25 so that the increasedpressure brought about by the closing of the delivery valve 17 reachesthe by-pass valve 55 before it reaches theump 22 with the consequentresult that the y-pass valve opens to immediately b -p'ass pipe fittingor connecting device 21 or 90 provides a satisfactory mount orinstallation means for any liquid-control mechanism, such as the pump22, the air cushion chamber 100, pressure relief by-passing valve means55, liquid strainer means 46, metering device or other flow controllinginstrumentalities. The device serves, the several purposes of mountingthe mechanism and connecting pipes together without disturbing saidmechanism.

What isclaimed is:

1. A pipe fitting comprising a member serving as a pipe-connectingdevice and a support for means thru which liquid is adapted to flow,said member being provided with an inlet passage and an outlet passage,a partition formed in the member setting ofl' said passages, an outerwall forming one side of said member, passa e thru said outer wall toatmosphere, the a oresaid partition being disposed between the ports, aconnection provided on the member and adapted to receive an inlet pipeleading to the inlet passage, and another connection provided on themember and adapted to receive an outlet pipe leading from the outletpassage, said outer wall of the member formed as a support onto which isadapted to be secured any suitable means to enclose and connect thespaced ports, whereby an inlet pipe is placed in flow-communicationaround the partition with the outlet 1 e. p Liquid. dispensing apparatuscharacterized by a unit means serving the several purposes of connectingpipes together and mounting liquid control mechanism in serviceposition, comprising a member having a receiving passage and an outletpassage set off by a partition therein; said member having an outer-wallprovided with a pair of spaced ports leading from each passage toatmosphere, one port being disposed on each side of said partition; aconnection for a pipe leading to the receiving passage and another tothe outlet passage of said member, and

liquid control mechanism adapted to be attached to the outer wall ofsaid member, said mechanism having a pair of spaced ports which areplaced in connected registry with the spaced ports of themember, wherebythe liquid control mechanism is itself not subjectedto attachment withthe twopipes aforespaced ports leading from each aeiaias said but servesto place said pipes in flowcommunication with each, other around thepartition within the member.

3. A liquid dispenser comprising a member adapted to be mounted directlyon a supporting structure, said member embodying a pipe-connection meanshaving an internal dividing partition setting oft two spaced ports oneon each side of said partition, said ports leading to atmosphere thru anouter wall of said member, an inlet pipe adapted to be attached to thepipe-connection means on one side of the partition, an outlet pipeconnected with the pipe-connection means on the other side of thepartition wall, a meter and hose line connected with the outlet pipe, aliquid-controlling mechanism thru which liquid flows and which also hastwo ports leading thru an outer wall thereof to atmosphere;'theliquid-control mechanism being mounted on and entirely supported by thepipe-connection means and the two ports of both of which are placed inconnected regis-- try, whereby said mechanism constitutes a passage-wayto complete the liquid-flow circuit around the partition, to communicatethe inlet pipe with the outlet pipe, but to avoid securing said inletand outlet pipes to said mechanism.

4. A liquid dispenser, comprising in combination, a pipe-connectionhousing embodying a hollow member adapted to be fixed to a supportingstructure, said pipe-connectionhousing havin an inlet chamber and anoutlet chamber, said housing being provided with pipe connections oneleading into each chamber, whereby an inlet and outlet pipe are adaptedto be attached directly to said pipeconnection housing, a self-containedpump including a casing adapted to be separated from and independent ofthe pipe-connection housing and containing a drive shaft and fluidimpeller journalled wholly within said casing, said drive shaft beingcarried in its separate pump casing alone and removable with sameindependently of and from the pipe-connection housing and not subject tostrain or misalignment when the inlet and outlet pipes are attached tosaidhousing, said self-contained pump being mounted on thepipe-connection housing and serving as a passage-way to communicate theinlet chamber with the outlet chamber, a'motor mounted on thepipe-connection housing to operate the self-contained pump, a by-pa'ssopening and valve connecting the inlet and outlet chambers and normallyclosing said opening against the by-passing flowof liquid from the.

' the stand and connected with a delivery hose depending from saidstand, a hollow pipeconnection housing secured within the upright pumpstand, said pipe-connection housing having an' inlet and outletchamberdivided o'fi by an internal partition, a bypass value mounted in thepartition and affording a circulation of liquid fromthe outlet chamberback into the inlet chamber in event the pressure on the metering deviceand its delivery hose exceeds a predetermined connection housingaforesaid, an electric motor supported on the pipe-connection hous ingand operating the. pumping unit, an inlet pipe adapted to extend intothe pump stand and be directly connected with the inlet chamber, and anoutlet pipe directly connected with the outlet chamber and connectedthereabove with the metering device and delivery hose; whereby thepipe-connection housing, the impeller pump, and the electric motor, mayfirst be assembled and adjusted as a unit outside the-pump stand, andthereupon installed within and secured to said stand, and the aforesaidpipe connections thereafter made, by which no pipe connections can bemade directly with-the separate impeller pumpcasing.

6. A pumping unit for liquid-fiow apparatus and the like, comprising apipe-connection housing, a horizontal partition separating thepipe-connection housing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, asecond horizontal partition forming an inlet passage below the inletchamber and said second partition having an opening therein, a strainermounted in said opening and extending into the-central portion of theinlet chamher, the pipe-connection housing having an opening in thebottom outer wall thereof leading into the inlet passage andin alignmentwith said strainer for removal of the latter, a cap covering the latteropening, a. connection adapted for an inlet pipe leading into the inletpassage, a connection adapted for an outlet pipe leading from the outletchamber and at one end thereof, a pump having a selfcontained casingsupported on the side wall of the pipe-connection housing remotely fromthe outlet pipe connection and containing an impeller means and shaft,the self-contained pump casing serving as a passage-way from the inletto the outlet pipe connection, a bypass. valve and opening in thefirst-named partition and disposed under the outlet pipe connectionremotely from the normal liquid flow between the strainerand' the pumpimpeller means to normally close the by-pass opening but operative toreturn liquid from the outlet chamber back to the inlet chamber when theoutlet pressure exceeds a predetermined value, the axis of the by-passvalve being parallel with the. strainer and adjacent to the outlet pipeconnection, the pipe-connection housing having an opening in its bottomin axial alignment with the by-pass valve through which it is removable,and a cap covering the latter opening.

7. A pumping unit for liquid-flow apparatus and the like, comprising apipe-connection housing, a partition separating the pipe connectionhousing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber having an outer wallwith spaced ports one on each side of the partition, a second partitionforming an inlet passage below the inlet chamber and having an-ropeningtherein, a strainer mounted in said opening and extending into thecentral portion ofthe inlet chamber, a connection adapted for an inletpipe leading to the inlet passage, a connection adapted for an out letpipe leading from the outlet cliamber, a pump having a self-containedcasing secured to the' pipe-connection housing remotely from the outletconnection and also having spaced ports which are connected in registrywith the spaced ports in said pipe-connection housing, a motor bracketon top of the pipeconnection housing, a motor mounted on said bracket.and operatively connected with a the pump, a by-pass opening and valvedisposed in the first-named partition and mounted under theoutletconnection so that said valve is remote from the normal liquidfiow between the strainer and the pump andnormally closes the by-passopening but operative to return the liquid from the outlet chamber backinto'the inlet chamber when the outlet pressure exceeds a predeterminedvalue, the pipe-connection housing having an opening in axial alignmentwith the by-pass valve through which it is removable, and a cap coveringthis latter opening.

7 8. A pumping unit for liquid-flow appa ratus and the like, comprisinga pipe connection housing, a partition separating the pipe-connectionhousing into an inletchamher and an outlet chamber, a port leading fromeach chamber 'to atmosphere thru an outer wall forming one side of saidpipe-connection housing, a second partition forming an inlet passagebelow the inlet chamber, a strainer mounted in the second partition andextending into the central portion of the inlet chamber, thepipe-connection housing having an opening at the bottom thereof into theinlet passage'and in alignment with the strainer for removal of thelatter, a cap covering this last opening, a connection adapted for aninlet pipe leading to the inlet passage,

at one end thereof, a self-contained pump having a casing secured to theouter wall of 5 the pipe-connection housing remotely from the outletpipe, the pump having ports connected in registry with the ports in thepipeconnection housing and serving as a liquidflow passage between theinlet and outlet chambers, an impeller. means and shaft mounted in thepump casing, a motor bracket carried by the pipe-connection housing, amotor mounted on the bracket and operatively connected with theself-contained pump, a by-pass opening and valve in the partitionbetween the outlet and inlet chambers and mounted under the outletconnection so that it is remote from the normal liquid flow betweenthestrainer and the pump'and normally closing the by-pass opening butoperative to return the liquid from the outlet chamber back into theinlet chamber when the outlet pressure exceeds a predetermined value,the axis of the by-pass valve being disposed parallel with the strainerand adjacent the outlet connection, the pipe-connection housing havingan opening in its bottom in axial alignment with the by-pass valvethrough which the latter is removable, and a cap covering the latteropening.

9. A pumping unitfor liquid-flow apparatus and the like, comprising apipe-connection housing adapted to be secured directly to a supportingstructure,.a partition separating the pipe-connection housing 1nto aninlet chamberand an outlet chamber, an inlet connection at the bottom ofthe pipe-connection housing leading to the inlet chamber, an outletconnection at the top of the pipeconnection housing leading from theoutlet chamber, a self-contained pump having a casing secured to theside of the housing and supported thereby, an impeller means and shaftmounted in the casing and forming a complete pump adapted to be mountedon or removed from the pipe-connection housing without dismantling thepump, the pipe-connection housing and the pump having spaced ports thrua common wall of each and ordinarily leading to atmosphere but adaptedto be connected in registry by which the pump serves to communicate theinlet with the outlet connection without attaching any pipes to saidpump casing, a motor bracket on top of the pipe-connection housingand'projecting over the pump, a motor mounted on the bracket, and adriving connection between the motor and the pump.

10. Liquid flow apparatusand pipe-fitting means therefor, comprising ahollow member.

having a partition wall dividing off an inlet passage and outlet passagetherein, spaced ports one on eachside of the partition-wall and formedthru an, outer wall of said pipefitting means and communicating eachpassage to atmosphere, each passage being provided with a connectionadapted to receive a pipeto be attached directly to said pipe-fittingmeans and to a wall thereof other than said outer wall thru which thespaced ports are formed as aforesaid, a liquid controlling mechanismalso having spaced ports and which are placed in connected registry withthe aforesaid ports of the pipe-fitting means, said mechanism beingsecured to the outer wall of the pipe-fitting means and entirelysupported thereby and serving to place the two passages in communicationwith each other, and an air cushion chamber operatively associated withthe liquid-flow apparatus and with the mechanism.

11. A pumping unit for liquid-flow apparatus and the like comprising apipe-connection housing adapted to be fixed to a supporting structureand having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, an inlet connectionfor a pipe leading to the inlet chamber, an outlet connection for a pipeleading from the outlet chamber, a pump casing supported by thepipe-connection housing and connecta ing the inlet and outlet chambers,the pump casing mounting an impeller means and shaft and forming acomplete self-contained pump, motor means carried by the pipe-connectionhousing to drive the pump, a by-pass opening and valve within thepipe-connection housing between the inlet and outlet chambers andnormally'closed but operative to return the liquid from the outletchamber back to the inlet chamber when the pressure exceeds the deliverypressure, and an air chamber included within the pipe-connection housingand connected to the outlet chamber.

12. A pumping unit for liquid flow apparatus and the like, comprising apipe-connection housing adapted to be carried by a supporting structure,said housing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, an inletconnection adapted to receive a pipe leading to the inlet chamber, anoutlet connection adapted to'receive a pipe leading from the outletchamber, a strainer within the inlet chamber through which the liquidpasses from the inlet connection, a pump having a selfcontained casingcarried on the pipeconnection housing and connecting the inlet andoutlet chambers, an impeller means and shaft mounted in theself-contained pump casing, a bypass valve between the inlet and outletchambers and normally closed but operative to return the liquid from theoutlet chamber back to the inlet chamber when the pressure exceeds thedelivery pressure, and an air chamber integrally formed with thepipe-connection housing and in communica- 125 tion to the outlet chamberthereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

7. WILLIAM J. PETER.

